Peggy Riccio is a horticulturist and garden communicator in Northern Virginia. Her website, pegplant.com, is an online resource for gardeners in the DC metro area. She publishes a local gardening newsletter, Pegplant’s Post Gardening Newsletter. She has given numerous in person and virtual presentations for local garden clubs, master gardeners, and nurseries. For herb-related presentations, the audience is invited to continue the conversation in Peggy’s Facebook group called Culinary Herbs and Spices. Over the past 30 years, Peggy has written more than 100 articles for national gardening magazines. She is a member of the Camelot Garden Club and just completed two 2-year terms as chair of the Potomac Unit of the Herb Society of America. Currently, Peggy serves as the Education Chair for the Herb Society of America. To contact Peggy, please complete the form at the end of this list.
Title of Program: Selecting Flowering Annual Plants for Your Garden
The beginning of summer brings racks of flowering annuals for homeowners and gardeners to color their property. So many different flowers – how do you choose? This presentation will cover the commonly sold flowering annuals to help you make an informed decision. The presentation will describe each plant’s characteristics, such as sun/water needs, deer & drought resistance, and pest/disease issues. By learning about each plant, you will be able to select the right plant for the right place in your garden.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Growing Flowers, Herbs, and Veggies from Seed
This presentation is for people who want to explore the wider variety of plants available when you start by sowing seed. Gardeners will learn seed starting basics, how to read a seed packet, and when and where to sow seeds. Both methods will be covered: starting indoors under lights and starting outdoors in containers or in the ground (direct sow).
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Vegetable Container Gardening
Learn how to grow vegetables in containers during the summer. This is ideal for gardeners who may not have space or a backyard to grow vegetables. Learn the fundamentals of growing plants in containers, the best vegetables for small spaces, and suitable containers. Also covered is watering, fertilizing, and where to get help when there are pests and diseases.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Getting Ready to Garden in Northern Virginia
This presentation is for people interested in gardening in Northern Virginia, either new to gardening or new to the area. The presentation will provide a basic outline of items to consider while gardening here as well as criteria when selecting plants. People will learn about 1) Virginia’s growing climate; 2) criteria for plant selection; and 3) resources for getting help. This information is useful for people who grow in containers as well as those who have garden beds.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Creating a Terrarium
Learn how to make a terrarium for your home. This is a step-by-step process for beginners who wish to make a simple terrarium of a few small plants. The presentation will cover the fundamentals of managing an enclosed or partially enclosed environment such as water, air circulation, light, and drainage. Suitable plants will be described as well as different sizes and shapes of containers.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Forcing Bulbs Indoors in the Winter
Attendees will learn how to make amaryllis, paperwhite, hyacinth, grape hyacinth, daffodil, and other bulbs bloom indoors during the winter months. Learn the best types for forcing, how to grow in soil or pebbles/water, what can be done with the bulbs after bloom, and bulb companies. This presentation is best delivered from September through November.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Growing Microgreens Is Easy!
Attendees will learn how to grow microgreens which are small shoots that can be grown indoors without special grow lights. Microgreens are high in nutrients and often are used in salads, smoothies, sandwiches, or as a garnish. Many common vegetable and herb seeds can be used. Although there are special kits, microgreens can be grown in shallow containers with drainage holes, either with soil or without.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Learn to Grow and Use a Dozen Culinary Herbs
Attendees will learn how to grow and use a dozen culinary herbs. For each herb, discover the best time and method to start, cultural requirements, harvesting and preserving techniques, and how to use them in the kitchen. These are easy to grow herbs that can be grown in the garden or in containers.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation. If held during the growing season, Peggy will bring fresh herbs for the audience to smell and touch.
Title of Program: Beyond Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme: Learn to Grow and Use a Dozen Unusual Culinary Herbs
Attendees will learn how to grow and use a dozen unusual culinary herbs. For each herb, discover the best time and method to start, cultural requirements, harvesting and preserving techniques, and how to use them in the kitchen. These are herbs that can be grown in the DC metro area, but they are not as commonly known as the Mediterranean herbs.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Edible Flowers We Grow in Our Garden
Attendees will learn that many plants in our gardens have flowers that are edible. Learn which flowers can be used in the kitchen to add beauty, color, taste, and interest to our dishes. This presentation covers more than 20 flowers commonly grown in flower, herb, and vegetable gardens.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
Title of Program: Holiday Herbs and Spices
Attendees will learn that Thanksgiving and Christmas are synonymous with herbs and spices – there are so many wonderful sights and smells as well as savory and sweet dishes and drinks. This presentation covers 7 herbs and 7 spices that are commonly used during the holidays. Attendees will be inspired to use each plant to provide fragrance and decorations for the home and flavor and garnish for dishes and beverages. Samples of the herbs and spices will be passed around for the audience to touch and smell.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation and samples of the herbs and spices will be passed around.
Title of Program: Introduction to Saving Seeds from Your Garden
Attendees will learn the basics of saving seed from their garden’s flowers, herbs, and vegetables. This presentation is for gardeners to save seed for themselves, for seed swaps, or for the library’s seed exchange program. Keeping one’s own seeds can save money and preserve genetic diversity. Learn which plants are best for saving seed, optimal time to harvest the seeds, and how to clean and store the seeds.
Length and format: one hour including time for questions (45 minutes talk plus 15 minutes questions). This is a PowerPoint presentation.
